Saints notes: David returns to practice

Oct. 18, 2007

Written by

Brady Aymond

Louisiana Gannett News

METAIRIE -- New Orleans Saints cornerback Jason David returned to the practice field on Thursday and his smile afterwards said it all.

"I feel great," David said. "I took it easy out there, just trying to get my legs back underneath me. But I ran around like a little kid out there."

David is practicing for the first time since breaking a bone in his forearm during the Saints' 31-14 loss to Tennessee in Week 3 of the season.

Prior to his injury, David had forced the only two turnovers of the season for the Saints. One of those turnovers he returned for a touchdown in the season-opener at Indianapolis.

David is still listed as out for Sunday's noon game against Atlanta at the Superdome, and said he's got another X-ray scheduled this weekend before being cleared.

"Right now, it feels fine, but we'll see what the X-ray says," David said. "I'm anxious to get back out there. Today felt good because it's not fun being on the sideline watching. Even though I was limited today, it was good to be out there running."

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Despite benching him this week in favor of second-year player Lance Moore, Saints coach Sean Payton said he hasn't lost any confidence in former LSU standout Devery Henderson.

Henderson has struggled with drops this season and didn't record a catch in Sunday's 28-17 win over Seattle.

"I said before he is going to be involved in each week's plan, he has to be, and he is someone that gives us some speed down the field," Payton said. "In the meantime, I have to pay attention to what other guys are doing, be it Moore or (David) Patten.

"Those guys are competing for touches and that's the reality of it, so we will try to have a handful of plays in for all of these guys. Drew (Brees) does a good job at spreading the ball around to all of these guys based on what the defense is presenting."

REMAINING POSITIVE

Quarterback Drew Brees said Thursday one way the Saints remained positive during an abysmal 0-4 start was by keeping their sense of humor.

He said bad starts are never fun, but that trying to keep a sense of humor helped the locker room remain positive.

"You have to (have a sense of humor)," Brees said. "(Losing) stinks, there's no other way to put it. You have to find a way to have fun. Winning is fun, but sometimes you can overanalyze to the point where you're trying too hard and the results aren't what you want and so putting too much pressure on yourself isn't fun.

"But when you go out there and you're playing confident and all those things, that's when you're having fun and you can joke and that's what sometimes you need to lighten guys up. You have to lighten them up and say 'Fellas, it's just a game. Remember when we were kids and you just died to throw on your sweats and go outside and play tackle football in the yard with your brother.' That's what you try to bring back."

SCHEDULE CHANGE

Due to the Saints playing a late game Sunday night on the West Coast, Payton altered the team's practice schedule this week to allow the players to adapt.